I thought it would be cool to post a thread in here capturing pictures of our four legged hiking partners. Post pictures that you particularly like or perhaps of them suited and booted in action on the trails.

Axl is my first boxer and so far I can definitely attest to his loyalty. When we're out in the woods he's great about staying close, especially when I'm setting up camp and I've let him mill about off-leash. He's never farther than about 30' away. From a practical standpoint he's great for hauling me off steep grades if I need the helping tug. Plus as his packweight lightens as he eats his food I can unload stuff from mine into his!

I'd actually love to get him a better sleeping setup than what I have now. His little orange Samsonite travel blanket has sufficed on mild evenings but I know at some point he's going to need a small quilt and pad in cooler temps, especially if I have any hope of keeping him off my SynMat UL (which I suspect will be less resistant to dog-nail punctures versus my old regular SynMat). Also need to get him an insulating layer of some kind. I know Ruffwear makes a number of dog-jackets although I'm not sure which one would work the best for him.

As if in a flashback to that scene in "A Christmas Story" where Ralphy discovers a pink bunny outfit underneath the tree, a few years ago Molly received a ridiculously dorky 'little yellow riding hood' rain cape from one of my relatives.

They begged us to put it on her, take some pics and then email them some (proof?) photos.

I dutifully took Molly out on the first rainy day and put on her cape. She looked up at me as if to say, "You've GOT to be ****ing kidding me."

The irony is...after a few times out in the rain with the cape on she discovered it was a heck of a lot better than getting soaked whenever we went out on the trails on a soggy day. Now, she won't set foot outside when it's raining without the rain coat.

Breed: Mini Pinscher/Manchester Terrier (She's from the shelter, so who knows for sure. She's taller and leaner than a lot of pinschers and has a white chest so I suspect she's more Manchester.

Age: Almost 3

Weight: 15 pounds

This dog was born to run. Has done a 22 mile trail run with me and still wanted to play fetch later that day. She's quite the predator as well. A neighbor's chicken got into our yard the other day; She ate the entire chicken, whole, everything except the wings. Completely defied the laws of physics...I don't know how a whole chicken fits into a stomach way smaller than my fist. Terribly bloated, it did slow her down for a few hours. She's quite fond of squirrels as well. Caught her eating the back half of one on our couch a month ago...

Nice thing about the small size for backpacking: Doesn't require much food or water, if she overheats she can ride my pack and she doesn't require any sleeping gear...tucks into my sleeping bag or a jacket rather well.

We've had 3 run ins with rattlers so far; every time I saw the snake as soon as she did and I yelled at her (making her freeze) before she had much time to think about it.So I still don't really know if she'd go for one, though she seemed hesitant with them.

Our biggest problem is coyotes; she's really good bait when trail running at night. I've had to stop running with her after dark in one canyon because we've been confronted or trailed so many times.

_____________________________________________

Next dog I want is a boxer. I love the ridiculously soulful look about them.

Never backpacked with them, but definitely my babies. I lost Chance, in front, a couple of years ago. Casey's still prowling the back yard, digging up moles and chasing rabbits. She's closing in on 14 now. Both were pound puppies.

"I saw the snake as soon as she did and I yelled at her (making her freeze) before she had much time to think about it."

Wise call, Craig. For a dog that size, no matter how feisty, the first mistake is probably going to be the last.

She probably wouldn't fare well with Ol' Wiley either. That canyon scene has to be a little weird, I'd think. I can just see their eyes glowing in your flashlight beam. I ran into about a half dozen of them one time solo up in Wright Lakes Basin, in broad daylight, and that was a mind concentrating moment for me. They left me alone, but for a brief moment I wasn't so sure how things were going to turn out, and my gut got real cold. Running into them at night when you're basically chumming them in with a small dog is probably even more so. Sort of like surfing and Great Whites? ;0)